On January 1, 2016, UPMC started offering acupuncture coverage for its commercial plans which include most PPO, HMO, and EPO plans. At this time, Medicare plans are not covered.

​Life Balance Acupuncture is proud to be an In-Network provider with UPMC.
Details and Requirements:

Eligible members are covered for up to 12 acupuncture visits per benefit year.

You must have a Physician's Order for acupuncture to use your UPMC coverage.(NOTE: UPMC customer service or your doctor's office may tell you that an order is not required, but they may not be yet aware of the change.)

The Doctor's order should have the condition/code for that condition you are seeking care for.

It's easy! The doctor's office may fax the order to 855-296-7125 or bring it with you to your first appointment. Generally no doctor visit required, just a phone call!NOTE: patients not using their coverage, those with non-UPMC plans, or those who pay cash for treatment do NOT require a doctor's order to receive care.

UPMC covers acupuncture treatment for the following conditions:

​back pain (lumbar, thoracic)

neck pain/ spondylolysis in the neck

sciatica/radiculopathy (pinched nerve causing pain)

knee osteoarthritis

migraines (Symptoms experienced for 15 days or more per month and lasting four hours a day or longer)

nausea/vomiting (generally in pregnancy, patients on chemotherapy, following gastrointestinal surgery, but not limited to)

NOTE: to ensure coverage follow these UPMC guidelines for coverage before seeking acupuncture care: For acupuncture treatment of migraine headaches, chronic pain in the lower back or neck or caused by knee osteoarthritis to be covered all of the following must exist and be documented: a. Diagnosis with supporting medical testing or evaluations b. Duration, intensity, and frequency of the pain c. Failure of standard treatments for a period of three months or more

Please call or email if you have questions about covered conditions.This list is not exhaustive and covers only the most commonly treated conditions.

Members must be 18 years or older to be eligible for treatment.

Copays/Coinsurance vary from plan to plan. And must be paid at time of service and cannot be waived.

If you exceed your 12 covered visits, you must pay our regular fee out of pocket at time of service. Click HERE to see our services and fees.

Members can call UPMC to check their eligibility and benefits at 1-888-876-2756 or call their UPMC Healthcare Concierge before scheduling. Click below to schedule!

Don't forget to take care of yourself as you are caring for and giving to others this holiday season. Holidays are a time of great joy, but for many can also cause stress, pressure, and sadness. Some tips and reminders for self care during the holidays:

1. Get enough rest. Everything will get done. It always does!

2. It's ok to say "No". If trying to be everywhere at once is stressing you out, it's ok to decline an invitation or make plans for another special day if you can't visit everyone in one day. Would you rather relax at home? That's ok too!

3. It's ok to indulge a little! Moderation is key. Don't beat yourself up or obsess over a few cookies or some rich appetizers. It's a time of celebration and thanks with friends and family. Not all food is super healthy, but not all food can feed the soul and create happy memories.

4. Staying hydrated and using a humidifier at night can curb catching a cold. When your skin and mucous membranes are dry and cracked, those pesky bugs have easier access to invading and knocking you down for a few days.

5. Give yourself permission to relax and do something nice for yourself. Whether it be a day to sleep in, to go get acupuncture or a massage, buy yourself a gift, or maybe all three, DO IT!

Remember, you can't keep taking care of others if you don't take good care of yourself.

Chinese Medicine is a natural medicine that focuses on our body's physical and emotional health in relation to the climate, elements, and seasons.

In addition to their physical functions, each organ/meridian system in the body is also associated with emotions, colors, seasons, elements, flavors, temperatures, and climates.

Fall is associated with the Metal Element and the Lung and Large Intestine organs. When the metal organs are in balance, there is a proper balance of 'taking in' and 'letting go' in the body.

Specifically, the Lungs are all about inspiration on a physical and emotional level. We take in the cool, crisp air of fall and feel refreshed and rejuvenated from the humid, hot air of the late summer. It's a time of clarity and ability to take in the fresh and new.

Fall is also a time to clear out clutter and let go. The Large Intestine is charged with this task on a physical level. If we become sluggish and unable to let go, we can become constipated. It's possible to feel this discomfort on an emotional level as well. Emotional constipation can present in the form on hoarding, not letting go of old grudges, or wallowing in grief and negativity.

The Fall and Metal season is a time of decline, loss and grief because the trees are losing their leaves, the summer is over, and the deep, darkness of winter is on its way. However, getting stuck for too long in grief signifies and imbalance of the metal organs in the body.

When in balance, the metal energy of the fall allows us to be creative, inspired, and moved by the beautiful and uplifting moments in life.

Pay attention to the subtle changes in your mind and body as we transition into the autumn season.

We are able to 'adjust' the body to align with the energy and climate of the season with acupuncture points if you are in need of a boost. Click below to schedule a special 30 min Autumn Seasonal Tune-up Treatment.

Join Life Balance Acupuncture and many more organic vendors and local artisans on Sunday, July 26 from 12-4pm at Bakery Square.

Enjoy mini acupuncture treatments and learn more about your health and what acupuncture can do for you.

We will also have Emily Skin Soothers for sale. They are safe and natural skin products that treat a variety of skin issues ranging from dry skin to eczema.

The event is sponsored by Organically Social. We are a proud member of the Organically Social network. For a small fee, you can become a member and get great monthly deals from over 70+ local health, wellness, and fitness businesses.

The Bakery Square Organic and Handmade Market occurs the last Sunday of the month through September.

Looking at a patient's tongue is often used in Eastern Medicine as a diagnostic tool to get a picture of the internal state of the body. In Chinese Medicine, there are terms used such as heat, cold, dry, damp, excess, and deficient that describe different symptomatic patterns that affect the body. For instance, damp heat in the bladder would equate to a UTI. Cold in the uterus could lead to menstrual and fertility issues.

The combination of pathologies in the organ systems are plentiful and can also have degrees of severity. The tongue can change over time to show internal conditions improving, and can clue us in on which systems may soon show symptoms if they become imbalanced.

There are several factors Chinese Medical practitioners look for while looking at the tongue:

1. ColorA very red tongue can signify heat/inflammatory conditions in the body. A very pale tongue can show blood deficiency. A light pink tongue with a thin white coating is the ideal picture of a healthy tongue.2. CoatA thin white coat is normal and signifies that digestion is working properly. A thick white coat can point to excess cold and damp (fluid/mucous) in the body. A dry, yellow coat on the tongue can point to heat and inflammation in the stomach. 3. ShapeA swollen, thick tongue signifies an excess of dampness in the body. A thin tongue can show a deficiency of blood and fluids that keep the body moist and supple. 4. Tongue FeaturesHere you look for patches, spots, teeth marks, and cracks. Teeth marks on the sides of the tongue indicate that the tongue is swollen and that the Spleen is sluggish and not aiding in proper digestion and providing energy to the body. A long crack down the middle points to stomach/digestive issues.5. Tongue MoistureA normal tongue should be moist, but not sopping wet with excess saliva, nor should it be too dry.

The tongue is also divided up into areas which correspond to the different organs in the body. The heart is represented by the tip of the tongue. If the tip of the tongue is red, this indicates a pattern of heat in the heart which can manifest as anxiety and other emotional issues. The lung area is right behind the heart area, the spleen and stomach region are in the middle of the tongue, the liver and gallbladder to the sides, and the kidney and bladder in the back center, at the root of the tongue.

Some people are born with certain unusual tongue features that are normal to them and do not indicate internal pathology (such as a geographic tongue).

On occasion, patients feel embarrassed about showing their tongue during a treatment, or make sure to scrape it thoroughly before coming in. It's nothing to be concerned with and seeing the natural state of the tongue can help us better help you! Be proud of the uniqueness of your tongue!

What is your assessment? Tell us your tongue diagnosis patterns in the comments below.

Diseases, pathogens, and syndromes have slightly different names in the Chinese Medical tradition. For instance, inflammatory type conditions are referred to as heat conditions in Chinese Medicine. These may include anything from red, hot skin rashes to inflammatory bowel disorders and everything in between.

Dampness is another pathology in Chinese medicine. It describes any excess accumulation of water and mucous in the body. As it thickens or begins to dry up, it progresses to a more serious form of dampness called phlegm. Normally we think of phlegm and mucous as only residing in the sinuses/throat/and chest during colds and allergies, however dampness and phlegm can be found anywhere in the body. To be blunt, it equates to 'systemic snot'.

Our bodies need to have appropriate fluids and moisture to function well, but dampness is excess gunk that our body doesn't need or isn't eliminating properly.

Examples of damp conditions include edema, sinus/nasal congestion, productive cough, fatigue, brain fog and worry, feeling sluggish and heavy,diarrhea/loose stools, extra weight/excess fat, pus, cysts, and even some types of tumors. Any kind of sticky, gooey substance that we don't want extra amounts of in the body!

What causes dampness? Living in a wet or humid region can cause your body to show damp symptoms, but often it starts from within from poor diet and stress.

Sadly, dairy foods such as ice cream and cheese are very damp in nature and can contribute to excess dampness in the body if not eaten in moderation. However, there are foods you can add to your diet to counteract and eliminate excess dampness from your body through urination. In addition, regular acupuncture treatment and certain herbal formulas can also speed up the process to eliminating dampness.

Click HERE to view an interesting Infographic about Dampness and what you can do to reduce its effects on you!

I'm happy to announce that I have decided to continue my education to pursue my certificate in Chinese Herbal medicine. The school where I studied acupuncture, AFEA, recently created a new, all intensive based herbal studies program for licensed acupuncturists. This means I will be doing a lot of travelling to attend classes and clinic, but will only be away from the Pittsburgh office a few days each time there is a class session.

But patients need not worry! I will offer extended hours and add extra days as needed to the schedule the week before and after an herbal class session to make up for the few days I will be away.

I am excited that I will be able to offer custom herbal medicine formulas upon completion of my studies and the national herbal board exam. Herbal medicine is a great option as a stand alone therapy, but works incredibly well in conjunction with acupuncture treatment.

My first session starts Monday. I will be back in the office on Monday, July 6, after the Independence Day weekend. I wish you and yours a wonderful, safe, and happy 4th!

This very interesting study discusses the health benefits of Tai Chi practice. A very accomplished Tai Chi master was studied in a lab to see how he has learned to harness the power of his own body using the motions, the breath, and the mind. Scientists were astonished at his strength and the control he had over his internal and external body.

Regular Tai Chi practice can help people of all ages and abilities to heal their body through slow motions and breath. Breathing and movement help to clear stagnation in the body. Stagnation in Chinese Medicine, is any kind of blood statis (bruising, varicose veins), qi stasis (muscular and joint pains, sluggish digestion, etc.), and anything that basically is stuck physically and even emotionally.

Acupuncture works in a similar fashion. Depending on your symptoms, specific points on various locations of the body are chosen to improve circulation to sluggish, deficient, or injured areas of the body to relieve pain/stagnation and stimulate healing.

Tai Chi is a wonderful way to build new energy in the body, and acupuncture is a great way to help circulate it to areas that need it most!

Each summer for the last 4 years, Fox Chapel High School has hosted the STEMM Academy (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine). Students spend 4 weeks learning about these important subjects, taking field trips, and meeting with different professionals from these fields.

I was honored to be invited back for my 2nd year as a guest panelist to the academy. I answered general questions about how I came to be an acupuncturist and discussed how technology, writing, and other skills are important in addition to being a competent practitioner. From there, we held two 45 minute break out sessions where students got to ask more focused questions and do some hands on activities related to acupuncture.

It was a great time and the students had a lot of fun! STEMM Academy is a wonderful program for students to learn about different fields and to discover their talents and interests. Perhaps we sparked interest in some future acupuncturists!